Chapter 2 part 5

They're completely different. First, the taste is different. Medicine has a bitter taste. While I was being treated for the wounds -which were never there to begin with-, the other members of Special Task Squad gathered all the servants in one place. Out of the 6 members of Special Task Squad who came today, I only knew Captain Jullius, Clauen, and Ira, and it's my first time to meet the rest. Ortzen didn't come. No, to be precise, he couldn't come.

"The Countess is already dead, now what?"

The young man with a sword on his back, asked Ira. Apparently Miss Ira was the person in charge of this operation to fill-in Ortzen's role. Miss Ira glanced at the Countess corpse before finally said.

"I never expected that she would be eliminated just like this. I can't make head or tail on the reason but she should still have some use."

Uhh… I think I know the reason. It was because the Countess' side misunderstood that the Special Task Squad has known about the fact that I was the sacrifice item for the contract with the Demon King. If they didn't catch me today, I would definitely be brought to meet with the High Priest to make sure if I was really the sacrifice and if that were to happened, it would be the end of the Count household.  However, whoever the mastermind behind the Countess was, could only cut their tails off so they wouldn't leave any hints behind.

'… even though I want to tell you.'

It's not the right time yet. I still have my suspicion towards Ortzen so I can't tell him the truth. I have to endure not to tell him anything until I safely got engaged and meet with the High Priest. Miss Ira was deep in thought and said,

"Let's wrap this up by saying that the Count's mansion was raided by mysterious men and Captain Jullius dealed with them when he came to pick up Miss Epheria. Unfortunately the Countess was badly injured and couldn't be saved."

"Then, we have to silenced all the servants?"

Ira lightly shook her head to Clauen's question.

"We don't have to take things that far. I think the other side also wish to quietly covered this matter."

That means if the servants wanted to ran their mouths around, it shouldn't caused any big problem.

"Let's look for Count Epheria after we're done taking care of the Countess corpse."

After Ira has done giving her orders, the other members of Special Task Squad started to disperse, leaving behind only Captain Jullius and Ira. Miss Ira lean over to examine the wounds on the Countess corpse then she turned her head to look at me with an odd expression on her face.

"How much longer are you going to stay like that?"

"You said yourself that I have to pretend I was injured."

"The injury is on your arm, not your legs."

Tsk. It's comfortable though. I was released from Captain Jullius' embrace and beckoned towards Sofia.

"You stay here with Miss Ira. I'll look for the Count– I mean, my father."

"…, Isn't it dangerous? Those mysterious men from before could have been hiding anywhere…"

"It's alright. I'll go with Captain Jullius."

I held Captain Jullius' hand while answering Sofia. Sofia looked hesitated but she still nodded at the end.

"Even so, Miss still have to be careful."

"I know. Don't worry!"

Now, I'm finally going to meet with the Count. Actually, I doubt he's still alive in this situation. Perhaps due to the other members of Special Task Squad had informed most of the servants in the mansion about the accident that took the Countess' life, I could barely saw any servants now, it's unsual sight. It could be said that I didn't know much about the structure of this mansion, so I just walked headlessly and keep walking. Then suddenly, Captain Jullius opened his mouth and said something.

"I'm worried."

I think I have heard these words before.

"You already know more or less about my skills though."

"But Ortzen has tricked you."

"Oh, you're talking about Sofia, so he pretended not to know that my maid was being caught as hostage?"

Captain Jullius just nodded. F*ck you Ortzen, it wasn't a guess but he had already known for sure that Sofia was taken as hostage.

"I think you can escape easily by yourself, but it's a different matter with the presence of a hostage. Even if by chance Miss can rescue her, she is just an ordinary maid so she'll just become a burden for you to run away. It's almost impossible for both of you to safely get out from here together."

"That's right."

"So, if by any chance something bad happened to Miss…"

He paused for a moment to choose the words he wanted to say,

"…, I was really worried."

In the end, the words that coming out were just that simple. He isn't good with words. But that's enough because I still can feel his sincerity. I awkwardly laughed and hit his arm lightly.

"Ah, I'll never let myself get caught even if there's a hostage because I have already promised. I'm not that soft."

"But, if you choose to abandon the hostage and run away safely, your heart won't feel at ease. I know that usually some people might feel that way."

Right at that moment, the sounds of footsteps inside the long corridor came to a stop. I stopped walking and almost at the same time so did Captain Jullius'. I turned around and looked up at the man who stood beside me.

It has been a long time since the last time I heard those words. Frankly speaking, my nature is far from the word 'delicate' and as the strongest holy knight that can heal ownself, there's almost no one worrying about my well-being, or even my feelings. Ever since I became a captain, when we lost one of our comrades, I acted as someone who gave consolations to others and wasn't the one who receive consolations. Well, but I still had the High Priest and my deputy who always cared about me.

"If I lost Sofia, I would certainly feel sad and bitter."

I could endure it, but it didn't mean that I didn't feel any pain. I reached out my hands and held the big hand which was twice in size compared to mine.

"Thank you for worrying me."

"I just feel worried. I did nothing."

The way he responded as such because he didn't know why I thanked him, somehow made me laugh a bit.

By the way, it looked like Ortzen didn't want to send Captain Jullius to the Count's mansion. I swayed the hand I was holding and playfuly asked.

"Could it be Ortzen told you not to go?"

"….."

"Did you just leave right away even though he stopped you from coming here?"

"… but, Ortzen tricked you first…"

Captain Jullius mumbled in a small voice. I noticed that because he always compromised listened to Ortzen, he became reluctant to speak out his opinion. Captain Jullius slightly tilted his head, somehow felt dejected.

"Ortzen's words are usually right and maybe this time he's right as well. Clearly I don't have to come and intervene, but even if that so, I still wanted to come."

Seeing this appearance of his while he was mumbling those excuses, my lips subconsciously formed a smile.

"No need to bother about that! Just do whatever you want to do. It's okay to be a bit selfish. Ortzen will definitely handle it well. Wasn't he given the position of deputy to do that kind of work?"

My deputy even said I could leisurely played around in the Capital. As long as I didn't commit any high offense criminal acts such as murder or treason, he said that he could covered it up. Ortzen wasn't someone incapable, so naturally there shouldn't be much problems.

"…, is it really okay for me not to worry?"

"I've already told you that it's alright. Anyway it's useless to cry over a spilled water. Besides, it's not that Ortzen didn't know you sneaked out either, right? Then it's okay. He will take care of it by himself."

"Um."

"There's only one thing you should always keep in your mind. Be careful not to run your mouth carelessly to prevent any leaks of information!"

I heard things would get complicated if any important informations got leaked outside. Captain Jullius nodded his head after hearing what I said.

"I also know that. But, Miss Epheria, I…"

Phweet!

By then, I heard the sound of a flute being blown to make a high-pitch sound. Looks like it's a signal.

"That's from Special Task Squad?"

"Yes. If it is sounded once that means we are asked to gather at the starting point. Apparently the Count has been found."

In my squad, it was twice. Well, the signaling code is rarely the same in each different squad. Especially the signal by smoke, lights, and sounds that could be easily heard or seen by enemies.

"Let's quickly head over there."

I'm very curious on how does the Count who I never met before, looks like.

***

The other members of Special Task Squad had already gathered at the central flower garden. In the meantime, the Countess corpse has been attended and placed on the stretcher and covered with a white cloth. Lots of bugs swarmed around the bloodstains that remained on the ground at the place where she collapsed earlier. The guards captain along with the rest of the guards have returned and been pacing back and forth nearby, but Cain was no where in sight. Sofia who was beside Miss Ira immediately came to me the moment she saw me.

"Miss!"

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes. But, all the servants in the mansion are feeling restless. Many of them also said they will leave the mansion."

When I looked around, I saw that most of the servants who were here before, have already disappeared. Although the Countess has died, there's still the Count as the master of this household. Well, even though I doubt he's still alive by now.

"Who sent the signal?"

Ira came forward and asked after all the members of Special Task Squad have gathered. A man with a muscular body and red hair answered.

"I think I have found him, but his condition…"

"It'll be even stranger if he was found while still intact when the situation was already a mess. Lead the way."

Looks like this time Ira also come along. I can't leave Sofia alone by herself and I also can't take her along with me even more, but I'm too curious to see the Count.

"Clauen, please take care of this cute lady here."

He hasn't paid off his debt yet for throwing his daggers on me so I got him to do something for me. Clauen still nodded in the end even though he's completely unhappy.

"Oka- alright. I also have to look after the corpse anyway."

(T/N: at first Clauen said 'okay' in informal speech form, then added -습니다 to change it to formal speech.)

"Thank you."

By doing this, I assumed he has paid off half of his debt. I have to use him again next time.

The place where Idoro,-the red-haired member of Special Task Squad-, lead us to was the deepest room inside the main building of the mansion. Based on the servants descriptions, seems like it's true that the room was the Count's. I didn't sense any human presence inside the empty room.

"This way."